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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Savannah Tidbits

Savannah, Ga. is one of my favorite cities to visit. Courting Holly (my next novel with a fall release) was set in 1882 Savannah. This naturally allowed me to visit once again. There are some little known facts about Savannah you might not be aware of. Savannah did not have large cotton plantations, even though Savannah was one of the largest cotton selling ports in America. Rice plantations made up the greater share of the plantations.
Another interesting tidbit is that of Bonaventure Cemetery. It was established in 1882 as Evergreen Cemetery by Peter Wiltberger who opened it to the public. Prior to that it was a private cemetery for the families who lived on the plantation. Here’s a picture of the from the 19th century of the Bonaventure.

And here is a photo I took in Dec 2012
The family plots are small and many were fenced in. Here’s an example.

I chose 1882 because Savannah was expanding at this time. My characters had to make changes in their lifestyles in order to succeed in business. At this point in Savannah’s history folks were regaining from their losses during the Civil War. The census said there were 37,333. 20,514 white and 16,819 colored (term used in the 1882 source I believe that included hispanics but I'm not sure.)

Another fun tidbit about Savannah that dates before 1882 and more into the 18th century was the use of ballast stones. As ships would load their vessels with stone to help weight them down and stabilize them when they were less than full, these stones would need to be removed to make room for cargo. Today you can travel on many of these ballast stoned streets on the waterfront.

And the last, but certainly not the least, tidbit about Savannah is the squares designed by Olgethorpe when he founded Savannah in 1733. These squares make the city an interesting place to visit. Which was Olgethorpe's original plan, to have a place where neighbor could meet with neighbor. He also designed the streets so wide that even today you can have cars parked on both sides and have traffic going both ways. As you go further south in the city the streets become narrower.

There are so many things I love about Savannah, but walking the streets, soaking up the history and enjoying the architecture are only a few. Perhaps your travels will allow you to go to Savannah one day.

Courting Holly won't be coming out until the Fall. But if you would like to enter a drawing for Key West, a collection of four historical novels set in Key West, simply comment on this post and you'll be entered into a drawing for that as well as the items below.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be in our daily giveaways!
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For each day you comment on CFHS, you’ll receive one entry in the Kindle and one in the $25 Amazon gift card giveaway. Comment on every post in the month of March and earn 31 entries!

Lynn A. Coleman is an award winning & best-selling author who makes her home in Keystone Heights, Florida, with her husband of 39 years. Check out her 19th Century Historical Tidbits Blog if you like exploring different tidbits of history.

70 comments:

I'm usually one of the last to duck in each day to post, but today, alas, I am up reading bookish news, and decided to make this my last stop of the day!! Laughs. I am sure most would consider a 3am turn in to be dangerously 'late', but night owls will appreciate where I am coming from! :)

Before I even began reading your post, I thought of two things: Ms. Debbie Lynne + Ms. Paula Deen! Smiles. Being a girl whose captured the unending joy of road treks, I have passed through, stopped for lunch, and otherwise been entwined with Savannah as anyone else whose driven up the Eastern Starboard via I-95 can attest! :) Like her counterpart of Charleston, Savannah yields a certain allurement that reminds me of New Orleans! There are timeless cities in our country that evoke a romantic sense of awareness that cannot be compared to others,... some for their historical signficances and some due to modern romanticisms that are keyed in to our visceral yearnings as a society.

I know of the rice, because I've purchased Jasmine rice in a special cloth bag that is meant to be frozen to say fresh, and I was happily surprised to unearth a partial history of Southern planted and harvested Jasmine rice!! Small world! :) Ontop of which, I learnt its best that the rice fields and the cotton fields do not overlap upon each other, due to cross contaminations... oyy.

Ooh your photographs remind me of an oak lined avenue nearby that has the same essence of century old mirth,... certain places are simply ageless, are they not!? And, cementaries! Ooh the stories they could echo, eh!? I love walking through them! Not only for the readings of stones, but the graceful peace and serenity of being 'present' and 'reflective'. I adore angel statuary as well! :) The gothic-esque adornments and elemental accompanients are always essential!

As far as I am aware of, colored only referenced African-Americans,... I wish I had had the chance to walk the streets, its always the best way to soak up the local flavour and atmosphere of the city!! Thank you for this guided tour of a city I've traversed through moreso than enjoyed the pleasure of acquainting myself with directly!

OOh, now Key West -- that's a subject of another feather!! Eek! Who wouldn't enjoy a journey of narrative set there!? Ooh boy!! Thank you for this bookaway, but I will also keep my eyes peeled for Courting Holly!

I love the city of Savannah! I think of the pecan pralines! We visited the city and walked around a few years ago. I want to go back again. A city filled with history. I did not know about the rice plantations. Thanks for sharing! I will be on the lookout for your new book!Nancycooks4u@gmail.com

I have never been to Savannah. In fact, the only place in Georgia I've been to at all is the Atlanta airport! But I would love to visit some of the fascinating places in the South like Savannah. As a child, we used to go camping different places, and visited sites like the Mammoth Caves. But as an adult, I would like to visit and enjoy the rich history of different areas. Not sure if my kids would share my fascination! lol

Thank you for the post on Savannah. My sister lives in Northern Georgia and I always tell myself 'one of these days I'm going on down to Savannah'. I love the history of the southern states and one can get lost in the beauty and history...sigh. But 'one day...'

I would love to be entered into your giveaway. Thank you for the chance.

I live in SC and have visited Savannah briefly on two different occasions. Once was only for lunch when we were on vacation on Hilton Head Island, and another time when I was a teen my family spent a day there during the spring when the Azaleas were blooming! Beautiful place, I would love to spend more time there at some point.

Two places that are on my list as well. We're hoping to go out West next Spring and stop at the Red Woods in California. My husband's brother has taken a job out there, so a visit would be in order.Lynn

I have never been to Savannah, but it sounds like a delightful place to visit with lots of history. A gal in my church is from Georgia and has mentioned Savannah on occasion. It would be fun to visit there someday! Thank you for the opportunity to win!

Hi Lynn, I love to visit other countries and areas, but am limited to doing it through the eyes and words of great authors! The advantage to that though, is that I am not limited to real time! Thanks for the opportunity to win this collection!

Absolutely love Savannah - the history, houses, trees, southern cooking, etc., etc. Haven't seen Bonaventure Cemetery - visited Savannah several years ago, but not enough time to see all that I wanted to. Love the Hilton Head, Beaufort, & Charleston areas also & did visit a Gullah cemetery while in Hilton Head. Another place on my list of places to travel are the Florida Keys - have heard the water there is equal in beauty to that of the Caribbean. Would love to win the collection of books set in Key West - thanks for the opportunity!

Yes, he did stop in Savannah but after the people of Savannah ran out to meet him so that he wouldn't burn the city. He then made headquarters in Savannah. The Savannahians did sink a lot of ships in the mouth of the river to prevent ships from coming into Savannah.

Lynn - LOVE the pics! I'm always so patriotically impressed by the nuances of our country. Places like Savannah may have been inspired by other nations/countries, but we've made it our own, haven't we?

As a child visiting that area, I remember the moss hanging off the trees. Early morning fog would bring the moss to life...or maybe just the imagination of an eight-year old avid reader did the life bringing. The rice info surprised me.

I've never been to Savannah, Georgia but it sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I have read Savannah from Savannah; Savannah Comes Undone; and Savannah By The Sea. They all give you an insight to the beauty of Savannah, Georgia. Thanks for having the giveaway.

I live in NE Georgia, but have never been to Savannah.....always wanted to! However, I have visited it through many books and loved that! Would love to read your giveaway books!!!Thanks for the chance!Jackie Smithjackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

Oh, just noticed where you live.....I have been there several times many years ago.....loved it! An aunt/uncle (deceased) had a home on some lake there (Santa Fe??!). Headed to your blog now to learn more!Jackie Smith

I have been so impressed with the research I have learned goes in to writing a book! Plus, you get to see some pretty places. Thanks for the interesting facts. I love books written in the early history of our country. Our ancestors had it tough but somehow I think they appreciated the simple things more...Thanks for the opportunity to win...Lindadmcfarl101(at)juno(dot)com

There are many, many places to see in the South as their are in the North, East and West. I have started to refer to myself as a Southern Yankee. Born and raised in New England with family back to the Mayflower, last count was 13 ancestors were on the ship, I will never be rid of my Yankee roots. But I do enjoy the south as well.

Thanks for the information on Savannah.. I thought it was one of the ones with large cotton plantations. So that was wrong.I would love to win the book with 4 stories. Thanks, Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

I have always wanted to go to Savannah, GA. My friend Sheila who lives in Savannah has been trying to get me to come for a visit. Hopefully one day I will be able to.Thanks for the giveaway.Janet E.von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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